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Benefits of Omega-3 Intake

You’ve probably heard that omega-3 fatty acids are healthy for you, but did you know most Americans don’t get enough? There are two important types of omega-3s: EPA & DHA. For healthy adults, the recommendation is to eat about 12 ounces of EPA- & DHA-rich fish per week to get adequate EPA and DHA intake. However, the average American consumes less than 3.5 ounces of seafood per week. With all the concerns about sustainable seafood, mercury and PCB contamination, and due to cost and taste preferences, it isn’t realistic for many of us to get in the recommended 12 ounces per week. Further, the American Heart Association recommends even higher consumption of EPA and DHA for individuals with heart disease, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides. For these reasons, an EPA-DHA supplement is an important addition to a healthy diet for many people.

Benefits of Omega-3s

The University of Maryland Medica Center’s site contains a great overview of the many health benefits associated with adequate DHA & EPA consumption. As you can see, intake protects brain function and mood stability, improves blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides, lowers cardiovascular disease risk, support diabetes management, and is very helpful in diseases of inflammation like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. Learn about how EPA and DHA decrease inflammation in this great video by our Medical Director, Dr. Robert Woodbury. And because obesity is a disease of inflammation, consuming adequate EPA and DHA, through diet or supplements, helps support weight loss and achieving a healthy weight.

At Healthy Steps we carry a line of EPA and DHA supplements that are purified and batch-tested to be free of heavy metals and other contaminants, have no fishy aftertaste, and provide 430mg of EPA and 290mg of DHA per softgel. This is a lot more of the anti-inflammatory ingredients than most over the counter fish oil supplements offer. Call or stop by the center and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have! It is important to always check with your health care provider before beginning an Omega-3 supplement because they can interact with certain prescription and over-the-counter medications.